Story Highlights

For the Rochester Rattlers, chemistry is built through shared meals and time spent together. This week, it included a team barbecue at coach Tim Soudan's house in Fairport.

"We preach family, family, family. We had a nice cookout at our house last night and it was easy-going," Soudan said after his team secured a 19-14 win over the first-place Denver Outlaws in a Major League Lacrosse game on Sunday at Sahlen's Stadium. "They hung out until it got dark and the bugs starting biting.

"The guys love each other. If we can keep the pressure on the league, hopefully we will have an opportunity at the end to play for a championship."

The team, which includes rookies on the attack, is buying in, Soudan said. They are trusting the process and trusting each other.

"We come in every weekend and we enjoy spending time together," said defenseman Joel White after Rochester improved to 6-3, just a game back of 7-2 Denver. "It's something special. We're going to continue to fight for each other.

"That was a great barbecue in Fairport. It's the kind of things you don't usually see in this league. It's just a joy to be here every weekend."

In his first start of the season, attackman Mark Cockerton, a rookie out of the University of Virginia, scored six goals on six shots for Rochester. Cockerton netted three goals in the fourth quarter.

"It was just one of those games where everything was going right for me," Cockerton said. "The more they were going in, the more confidence I gained. I love those days. I haven't had one of those days in a while, and certainly not in a professional game."

Denver took a 1-0 lead early in the first quarter, but Rochester responded with seven straight goals.

"They were moving the ball well, shooting well. We weren't getting the right things done on the offensive end of the field and in transition," said Denver midfielder Jeremy Sieverts. "We were playing a lot of defense."

The Outlaws pulled to within 16-12 early in the fourth quarter before Cockerton answered with his final goal.

"I thought we moved the ball really well and we were unselfish," rookie attackman Jordan Wolf, who had three goals and an assist, said after his third professional game. "When we were selfish, it didn't look so hot. We shot well, especially with (two-time MLL goalie of the year Jesse) Schwartzman in goal. He's a stud. It clicked today."